Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 86.djvu/472

 430

Publication.

Effective date.

PUBLIC LAW 92-340-JULY 10, 1972

[86 STAT.

"(7) RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR PROTECTION OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT RELATING TO VESSEL DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION, ALTERATION, AND REPAIR; INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT.—(A) The

Secretary shall begin publication as soon as practicable of proposed rules and regulations setting forth minimum standards of design, construction, alteration, and repair of the vessels to which this section applies for the purpose of protecting the marine environment. Such rules and regulations shall, to the extent possible, include but not be limited to standards to improve vessel maneuvering and stopping ability and otherwise reduce the possibility of collision, grounding, or other accident, to reduce cargo loss following collision, grounding, or other accident, and to reduce damage to the marine environment by normal vessel operations such as ballasting and deballasting, cargo handling, and other activities. " (B) The Secretary shall cause proposed rules and regulations published by him pursuant to subsection (7)(A) to be transmitted to appropriate international forums for consideration as international standards. " (C) Rules and regulations published pursuant to subsection (7) (A) shall be effective not earlier than January 1, 1974, unless the Secretary shall earlier establish rules and regulations consonant with international treaty, convention, or agreement, which generally address the regulation of similar topics for the protection of the marine environment. I n the absence of the promulgation of such rules and regulations consonant with international treaty, convention, or agreement, the Secretary shall establish an effective date not later than January 1, 1976, for rules and regulations previously published pursuant to this subsection (7) which he then deems appropriate. " (D) Any rule or regulation for protection of the marine environment promulgated pursuant to this subsection (7) shall be equally applicable to foreign vessels and United States-flag vessels operating in the foreign trade. If a treaty, convention, or agreement provides for reciprocity of recognition of certificates or other documents to be issued to vessels by countries party thereto, which evidence compliance with rules and regulations issued pursuant to such treaty, convention, or agreement, the Secretary, in his discretion, may accept such certificates or documents as evidence of compliance with such rules and regulations in lieu of the certificate of compliance otherwise required by subsection (6) of this section. "(8) SHIPPING DOCUMENTS.—Vessels subject to the provisions of this section shall have on board such shipping documents as may be prescribed by the Secretary indicating the kinds, grades, and approximate quantities of such cargo on board such vessel, the shippers and consignees thereof, and the location of the shipping and destination points. "(9) OFFICERS; TANKERMEN; CERTIFICATION.—(A) I n all cases where the certificate of inspection does not require at least two licensed officers, the Secretary shall enter in the permit issued to any vessel under the provisions of this section the number of the crew required to be certified as tankermen. " (B) The Secretary shall issue to applicants certificates as tankermen, stating the kinds of cargo the holder of such certificate is, in the

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